Tsonga seeking Federer 'revenge'

Senior sports writer for The Age

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga is facing another close encounter with the unearthly Roger Federer and he is viewing this fourth round meeting - earlier in a grand slam event than usual - as an opportunity for revenge.

''For me, it's the possibility to take revenge because last year I lost to him in a quarter-final,'' the Frenchman said, following an impressive 7-6, 6-4, 6-2 conquest of compatriot Gilles Simon.

''It's a good opportunity to play him again and, you know, it's always nice to play against such a good player.''

Last year, Federer beat Tsonga here over five sets, then the Fed was taken out by Andy Murray in a five-set semi, before Murray was felled by the Djoker in the final - tennis really is like boxing.

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But Tsonga's is a selective - and nonchalant - concept of vengeance. Federer is entitled to seek his own version, given that Tsonga won their last grand slam meeting at Roland Garros in straight sets.

Tsonga differs from the vast majority of players in that he's beaten Federer five times (he's 5-9 lifetime) and two of those victories were in majors. One was a stirring quarter-final at Wimbledon, when the explosive Tsonga wiped off a two sets to nil deficit. Tsonga, when asked whether this next match represented his ''best chance'' against Roger in a slam, he was quick to correct: ''I already did (beat him) twice.''

So this pair have some interesting history, without any edge or hostility. Tsonga is stiff to be facing Federer in the round of 16 (and vice versa), rather than their typical meeting place of the quarters or semis. The problem for both players is that they've found themselves in the horror half of the men's draw - the same half as Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray, each of whom were comfortable straight set victors on Saturday.

Novak Djokovic should be pleased to be on other side of the draw, where his toughest notional opponent is David Ferrer and he must be interest-rate odds to make the final.

Nadal was outlandishly solid in wearing down Gael Monfils, the Frenchman who might be the best athlete on the men's tour.

Monfils suffered the frustrating fate of so many who confront the world no 1 - whenever he created an opportunity, such as a break point, a 0-30 or a 15-30, Nadal would respond. The Spaniard champ saved six break points, and the score (6-1, 6-2, 6-3) was misleading in the sense that Monfils did prise the door open often enough.

The better players, as we know too well, play the key points better. Nadal doesn't simply break serve; he breaks opponents. If you can't break his serve, if you let those fleeting chances slip, you're broken.

The frustration of Monfils was evident at 2-2 in the third set, when he missed a volley and smashed the ball into the net. A couple of games later, he has 0-30 on Nadal's service and the sight on a second serve. Nadal, unsurprisingly, makes a brilliantly deft backhand volley. Two games later, Nadal breaks Monfils for the last time.

''I think tonight I played my best match of the tournament of the match so far,'' said Nadal, who showed no sign of any issue with an ankle that had bothered him.

Nadal's half of the draw might present him with a challenging semi - depending on who beats whom - but it's a hell of an ask for Murray.

If Murray is to make the final, for instance, he'll have to beat Stefane Robert (yet another Frenchie) in the fourth round, and then the winner of Federer v Tsonga in a nasty quarter, with Nadal drawn to meet him in the semis. But Rafa first has to deal with the Japanese ball machine Kei Nishikori, who clinically ousted American Donald Young in straight sets on Saturday evening.

Murray dispatched Feliciano Lopez, the 26th seed and a potentially tricky lefty, 7-6, 6-4, 6-2. Murray, like Nadal, hasn't dropped a set. The game's big four - Nadal, Djokovic, Murray and Federer - are intact. The Australian championship again seems anything but Open.

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